R707 Operation Inc. Non Profit Tourist Railway
Featuring Steam locomotive R 707
A rare occasion behind R 707 and T413 and using the same train to ride on the Maldon Branch Line toward Maldon from Castlemaine and pulled by J Class Oil Burning Locomotive to Maldon
History: It began as Locomotive Restoration Society of R707 to it current form as Victorian Rail Heritage Tourist Operator and non profit organisation that all volunteer operated that supports Regional Vic Tourism
Down direction Spencer St Station to Castlemaine and Maldon
On a very cold, wet Saturday on Platform 3 B for our train for for the day it consisted of 2 BS carriages, BK , BRS , BZ ,ACZ, power and non power vans pulled by T314 and R 707 leading the train.
After settling onboard the ex West Coast Railway ACZ 255 that used to go to Warrnambool in the public service and other places in Victoria we had relaxing leisurely run toward out of the Metro area with R707 leading greeted via Train Tour Manager Matt and his lovely warm pleasant announcements on the PA keep the passenger updated of events happening on route toward Castlemaine after departing 10:08 from the station.
On board I shuffled off through BZ 270 to the BRS 224 known our buffet car and sampled the BK bar/lounge car, very luxurious the old decor and furnishing from a era where rail travel meant more then just go to A to B as ex Southern Australian Carriage beautifully preserved in NSW with another Tourist Railway Before being reallocated to 707 Operations Inc. for their use on their many Weekender Tours in Regional Victoria during the year before Lowanna a meal service and crew car ex VGR carraige and BTN259 from VN6 was taken off the public service and allocated via Vic Track to 707 Operations Inc who wisely refurbished the interior and transform it into a Dining Car which I have ridden and found very pleasing sitting and eating meal on board their long weekend tours during March to Swan Hill and Pangil tour and hopefully looking forward to doing more these type of heritage trips soon.
After arriving at Castlemaine 13:35 a bit late due to matters beyond the operators control on board the people were well catered with food and drinks onboard beforehand shortly after arriving we all got off the train on the platform 2 a quick change of locomotive took place with Victorian Goldfields Railway J Class and some their crew taking our train toward Maldon on the Branch line at a relaxed pace.
Up direction From Maldon Castlemaine and returning to Melbourne:
After arriving at Maldon about 15:10 which is under the Tourist Railway Operator Vic Goldfields Railway Inc. people went to the town to source food/meals. After watch my accompanying traveller I noticed the surprise facial expression on some the local shop owners or food venue people working there as I shuffled in to get some food from them and I failed to understand why the shops and food venues were seemly not aware of this influx of people Including myself who were heading down from Maldon Railway Station that way to patronise their food venues that day….
I notice on route a lot of train people were watching the train come in or chasing it in their cars.
We departed 16:45 on the way back to Castlemaine Station and after a quick Locomotive change we were on our way back to Southern Cross Station[Old Former Spencer St. Station again]
People settled down back after a long day on board for nice fast run back to Melbourne and pulling in at 20:10 approx. and good day on tour, cold, wet but very interesting tour with this heritage train operator 707 Operations Inc. and their steam locomotive R707 and T413!
*photos included by Snuffles*
Great review.
Petra,
Thank you very much for your comments….
It was my very first review I have written….
Can the train run directly from Castlemaine to maldon is the line open all the way?
Hi Petra,
Yes the branchline in use and under Victorian Goldfields Railway another non profit tourist railway…..
707 Operations inc organised it and teamed with VGR to enable the full access of that track for our tour to Maldon…..
Normally the Vic Goldfields Railway run tour trains on Sundays or Wednesday…..check their website for more info.
https://www.vgr.com.au/
I will add a few further details to photo in article above:
The 1st is view of BZ270 2nd R707 at Castlemaine
3rd pic is view of Castlemaine from my window of ACZ255.
4th is BK bar Car/lounge
5th T413 at Castlemaine
6th is train position at Maldon Station
and 6th is after R707 after. it pulled in again at Spencer St Station
and last one was when I sitting in the carriage at southern Cross Station waiting to depart in ACZ255 at 3B 7th is travelling over the fly over.
How was the ride on the branch line with the new sleepers?
To Billy, I understand the track lengths on the branch line now are longer and unweld track join are further apart on the line ….As the newer sleepers, not bad, very nice ride….